Watching the 2010 World Cup

I’m happy to report that this year’s entire World Cup – all 64 matches – will be shown live and in HD on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC.

South Africa 2010 is ESPN’s seventh FIFA World Cup, and coverage promises to be its most comprehensive. Unlike 2002, when the competition was played in Asia, the matches are being played during daylight hours here on the east coast. Early matches during the first round will start around 7:30 a.m., while other matches will start around 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

ESPN channels plan television studio programming from South Africa, a nightly program, prematch, halftime and postmatch shows and other soccer-related segments.

ESPN will air 44 matches – the most ever for the network in one tournament; ESPN2 will feature 10 matches; and ABC will broadcast 10, beginning with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s tournament opener vs. England on Saturday, June 12, at 2 p.m. ET in Rustenburg. The tournament will conclude on ABC with the title match Sunday, July 11, at 1:30 p.m. ET from the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.